The Village of Lost and Found, page 21
Keith looked up from his new squeaky toy just long enough to thump his tail on the floor upon hearing his name.
‘So I’ll box them up and dump them outside,’ carried on Molly. ‘If she wants them, then she can come and get them. If not, the charity shops can take them.’
‘Yeah, they’ll be really grateful,’ said Lucy, giving her a wink.
Molly giggled. ‘I’m not so sure they will,’ she said.
After they had had their croissants, Keith included, they switched on the radio and sang along, mostly out of key, to the songs as they stripped the ghastly dark wallpaper from the walls. Lucy found it quite therapeutic returning the walls back to their lovely pale original colour.
Once they had finished the lounge, they looked around in pride.
‘It looks so much better,’ said Lucy, nodding.
‘Absolutely,’ said Molly. ‘We’ll have to repaint the walls, but we’ll find a similar colour. It shows off the oak beams so much better. Right. Let’s get rid of that awful jungle stuff next.’
The wallpaper in Molly’s bedroom put up more of a fight than in the lounge and there were a few sticky patches left on the walls once they had finished.
But Molly shrugged. ‘I don’t care,’ she said. ‘Some paint will cover it up. But that bloomin’ lion used to give me nightmares.’
‘So did those parrots,’ said Lucy, nodding in agreement.
The walls looked a bit tatty underneath, but they were still a marked improvement on the ghastly wallpaper.
Then Molly headed downstairs to pick up some cardboard boxes from the shop and began to pack away the ornaments.
‘It’s so cluttered,’ she wailed. ‘I can’t bear it.’
So the cats went, as well as all the glittery shiny boxes and fake chandeliers. Gradually the apartment was stripped bare until it was just the furniture, blank walls and oak beams.
‘Much more classy,’ said Lucy, nodding her approval.
Molly took the boxed ornaments downstairs to get them out of the way.
‘I’ll give Bridget two days to pick it all up,’ she said, texting as she came back up the stairs. ‘Otherwise the whole lot will go.’
‘Who are you and what have you done with Molly?’ asked Lucy in amazement.
Molly giggled. ‘I’m still me. Just a little stronger.’
Lucy nodded. ‘It suits you.’
And it did. It was all Molly, of course. But, for once, Lucy felt a little glow of appreciation that she had helped out her friend. And that she now had friends to help as well.
‘Well, what do you make of all this then?’ asked Lucy, as she sat down on the sofa. ‘Everyone’s changing.’
Keith suddenly stood up and climbed onto the sofa next to her, placing his head on her knee. She stroked his floppy ears as she looked down at him.
‘Changes all round,’ she murmured, as he closed his eyes and fell asleep on her lap.
As she carried on gently stroking his grey fur, one thought went around in her head. I don’t want to leave Cranbridge, she thought. I want to stay.
47
Tom, Lucy and Molly were gathered around his computer on Monday morning, all staring at the screen.
‘I like it,’ said Molly, nodding and smiling.
‘Me too,’ said Lucy. ‘It looks so much better.’
Tom could smell her soft perfume, making his head reel.
‘Good,’ he said, trying to concentrate. ‘I’ll let Del’s nephew know that we approve the new design.’ He looked back at the screen, pleasantly surprised. The new website was much better. It was far easier to use and looked far more modern.
Upon hearing the phone, Molly looked up. ‘I’d better get that,’ she said, rushing out of the office towards the reception desk.
Lucy straightened up at the same time as Tom and he realised how close they were standing to each other. He could see the individual dark sooty eyelashes which highlighted her emerald eyes.
‘Well, I’d better get back to it as well,’ she said, smiling at him. ‘Although I’ve pretty much finished all the tidying out there.’
Her voice trailed off and Tom was left with the horrifying thought that with nothing to do, she might leave the newspaper.
‘We’ll find you something,’ said Tom. ‘And don’t forget, there’s always my office to work on.’
She grimaced. ‘Don’t remind me.’
But she was smiling as she headed out.
He watched her go, her dark ponytail swinging from side to side as she went.
He was about to try to concentrate on work when he saw Frank come into the main office. He headed out of his office to find Frank was already fussing over Keith.
Lucy was looking at her uncle and shaking her head. ‘He’s going to get terribly fat,’ she said.
Tom looked down to where Keith was settling down to munch on a large rawhide bone.
‘He runs it all off,’ Frank said. ‘He’s a bag of energy.’
‘Talking of which, what are you up to today,’ asked Lucy.
‘Just heading around the block to stretch my legs,’ said Frank. ‘It’s time for me to start to do a little walking. I’ll be fine,’ he added, holding up a hand. ‘Don’t fuss.’
‘Perhaps I could join you?’ asked Tom. ‘I could do with a bit of fresh air for five minutes.’
‘Of course,’ said Frank, looking pleased. ‘The company will be most pleasant.’
They left Lucy and Molly in the office and walked slowly alongside the river.
‘Beautiful day,’ said Frank, as they went.
‘It certainly is,’ said Tom.
The sky was an endless blue which was reflected in the slow-moving river beside them.
‘Going to be a hot one this week,’ said Tom, relishing the warmth from the sun. The weather forecasters were predicting a heatwave over the next couple of weeks. ‘How’s the foot?’
‘It’s fine,’ said Frank, glancing down at his boot. ‘I’ll be glad to get rid of this thing though. It’s warm enough without the summer temperatures.’
‘It doesn’t hurt too much?’ asked Tom.
Frank glanced over his shoulder. ‘Sometimes,’ he said. ‘Don’t tell my niece though. It’s just because it’s healing.’ He gestured at a nearby bench. ‘Shall we sit for a moment?’
They both sat down under the dappled shade of a nearby tree, looking out across the river. They sat in a comfortable silence for a while, watching a duck wading slowly across.
‘How are you?’ asked Frank, still looking out across the river.
‘Good, thanks,’ said Tom.
‘Glad to hear it,’ said Frank. ‘You look it too, if I might say.’
Tom looked down at his rapidly shrinking stomach. ‘The running helps.’
At least that was getting easier with each passing day, he thought. That morning, he had added another mile to his run and had barely noticed the difference.
‘Mentally as well, it would seem,’ murmured Frank. ‘You appear much happier in yourself.’
‘I really am.’
It was the first time Tom had admitted it even to himself, but he felt far more positive than he had done for many months, perhaps even years.
‘It’s even reflected in your editorials,’ said Frank, smiling. ‘I’ve lost count of the number of people that have commented on it to me in recent days.’
‘It’s just a shame that the newspaper profits don’t reflect that,’ said Tom, turning to look at him.
‘Ah.’ Frank sighed. ‘So there’s been no increase in sales at all? Even with all this ghastly business about the quarry?’
Tom looked at him. ‘There’s been a slight uptick in sales.’ But not enough to make a huge difference over the future for the newspaper. He didn’t need to say the words out loud. Frank understood.
‘I see.’ Frank nodded thoughtfully. ‘Well, my niece keeps telling me that she’ll think of something. And I’ve learnt never to underestimate her.’
‘Absolutely,’ said Tom.
Lucy was certainly a positive force around the place. But without the extra funds coming in, he wasn’t sure how much longer they could afford to even pay her meagre wages.
He desperately didn’t want her to leave. He couldn’t imagine not seeing her every day. He kept trying to tell himself that it was because she was a friend. They had been through so much together. That was all.
Whatever it was, he hoped that particular argument would become more convincing. Because at that moment, he didn’t believe it himself.
48
The heat had built up until, by the end of the week, Cranbridge was in the middle of a full-on heatwave.
As a result, pace of life in the village had slowed down. Which was a good thing, thought Lucy. Because she had finished her tidying of the newspaper office and was pretty much twiddling her thumbs thinking of something to do.
By contrast, Molly was flat out with her social media accounts. So much so that when they went to sit by the river in their lunch break, Molly ended up dashing around taking photos of people enjoying their ice creams in the sunshine.
Lucy had even been coerced into paddling in the river to capture the moment for the next post.
‘Splash around a bit,’ called out Molly from the other side of the river.
Lucy looked at her. ‘Do you know how cold this is?’ she asked, before looking down at her feet in the clear water. Thank God she’d painted her toenails the previous evening whilst watching television with Molly.
‘Come on,’ said Molly. ‘Look as if you’re enjoying yourself.’
Lucy stuck her tongue out at Molly before finally breaking into a smile.
‘That’s great!’ called out Molly. ‘Let me just get a few more.’
‘Snooze and you lose,’ said Lucy, giving her one last pose before she turned to wade back across to the riverbank where Belle and Amber had been lounging on the bench nearby, soaking up the sun.
‘This is so lovely,’ said Amber, stretching like a cat in the sun. ‘Too lovely. I should get back to the shop.’
‘You’re allowed a lunch break and Josh said you should take a breather outside,’ said Belle, leaning back against the bench with her sunglasses on.
‘What about the pub?’ asked Lucy.
Belle made a face, almost hidden by her enormous sunglasses. ‘I’m entitled to a break as well,’ she said. ‘My aunt and uncle have been at each other’s throats all day.’
‘Maybe it’s the heat,’ said Molly.
‘I think it’s just because today’s got a Y in it,’ said Belle, with a sigh. ‘Remind me to never get married.’
Amber looked up with a start. ‘That’s awful,’ she said. ‘Not every couple are like them.’
‘I know,’ sighed Belle. ‘But, believe me, if you had to live with them, then they’d put you off romance for life. You know how I feel about that love kind of stuff. Anyway, Lucy agrees with me.’
‘Absolutely,’ said Lucy quickly.
Amber and Belle looked at each other and exchanged a knowing smile but didn’t say anything.
‘Does anyone want an ice cream?’ called out Tom as he passed by on his way to the shop.
‘No, thanks,’ they all replied, except Belle who asked for a strawberry sorbet.
‘That new flavour is lovely,’ said Amber. ‘But I mustn’t eat any more otherwise I won’t be able to fit into my shorts soon.’
‘Talking of shorts, Tom’s fit very nicely these days,’ said Belle. ‘Have you seen him out jogging recently?’
‘He looks much better, don’t you think?’ agreed Amber.
‘Oh yes,’ said Lucy, in a wistful tone.
There followed a short silence before she turned to find both Amber and Belle grinning at her.
‘Shut up,’ she told them.
Belle brought down her sunglasses onto the end of her nose. Her eyes were screwed up as she studied Lucy. ‘Told you she was a terrible actress,’ she said, looking smug as she pushed her sunglasses back on.
‘What are you talking about?’ asked Lucy.
Amber merely smiled and brought her face up to the sun.
‘Whatever it is that’s going on between you two,’ said Belle.
‘Me and Molly?’ asked Lucy, deliberately misunderstanding her.
Belle rolled her eyes. ‘You know who I’m talking about.’ She nodded with her head at the newspaper office behind them.
Lucy blushed bright red. ‘Nothing’s going on,’ she said quickly. ‘We’re just friends, that’s all.’
‘Just friends?’ asked Belle.
The question hung in the air and Lucy groaned. ‘So maybe I like him. Just a little tiny bit. What am I supposed to do?’ she whispered.
‘Grab him by the collar and kiss him,’ said Belle.
Lucy was aghast. ‘I can’t do that!’
‘Why the hell not?’ asked Belle.
‘What if he says no?’ said Lucy.
Belle made a face. ‘Seriously? That’s your excuse?’
‘Besides, I work with him,’ said Lucy. ‘It’s awkward. Anyway, ssh. I don’t want this getting out.’
Belle was still shaking her head when Molly came and sat down with them.
‘I’ve got some great shots,’ said Molly, looking at her phone. ‘That’s this afternoon’s work sorted out.’
‘Glad somebody’s busy,’ said Lucy, who was still blushing and hoping that everyone else thought it was the heat from the sun. ‘I’ve finished all the tidying up in the main office and Tom won’t let me start on his mess yet, so I’ve nothing left to do.’
‘It looks much better in there,’ said Molly. ‘Although you’ve thrown so much stuff away that it’s much emptier than it used to be.’
‘Perhaps you could use the time to redecorate,’ said Amber. ‘That’s the first thing Josh and I did when we’d cleared everything out.’
Lucy tapped her chin in thought. ‘You may be right. I mean, it could certainly do with a fresh coat of paint in there.’ She looked at Amber. ‘You’re good with this kind of thing. Do you think you could have a quick look in there before you head back to the shop?’
‘Of course,’ said Amber. ‘We can go now, if you want.’
‘I’m going to stay out here,’ said Belle, closing her eyes to the sun. ‘I’m solar-powered, you know.’
Once inside the office, Amber suggested that they paint the walls white, the same as in the shop. ‘It’s got the same coloured beams, after all,’ she said. ‘You could always add some art onto the walls at a later stage.’
‘It’s a shame it won’t look as pretty as the shop does,’ said Lucy.
‘Why don’t you give the outside a proper coat of paint as well,’ suggested Amber, walking back outside to look at the bay windows at the front. ‘You could have a couple of window boxes filled with flowers. And nothing beats a few strings of fairy lights around the windows.’
‘You’re right,’ said Lucy, suddenly filled with enthusiasm.
‘What’s all this?’ asked Tom, appearing alongside them, holding a scoop of mint chocolate ice cream in a tub.
‘We’re going to fix the place up a bit,’ Lucy told him.
Amber smiled at Tom before walking away to leave the two of them standing outside the office.
Tom raised his eyebrows in surprise. ‘I see. Am I included in that statement?’ But his blue eyes were twinkling as he offered her a spoonful of ice cream.
She licked her lips afterwards. ‘Yum,’ she said. ‘Thanks.’
‘You’re welcome,’ he replied.
At least a fresh coat of paint would make the place look a lot better, Lucy decided. And, of course, it would enable her to stay on at the newspaper for a little bit longer. Because having to leave would break her heart. And that didn’t just include the newspaper, she thought, as she watched Tom walk back into his office.
49
Painting in a heatwave was certainly a good workout, thought Lucy, wiping her brow.
It was late afternoon and with the heat of the day at its peak, she felt hot and sweaty. And yet she had to concede that the office was beginning to look much better.
It had taken a whole day to move most of the furniture and files into the centre of the room, allowing her to access the walls and ceiling. When she had started to paint, poor Molly had had to be moved around from table to table so she wasn’t dripped on, although being Molly, she didn’t complain.
Keith also didn’t appear to mind the paint, especially when he was adept at stealing the paintbrushes and causing havoc with them as he ran around the place.
Lucy stood at the bottom of the stepladder and stretched her back. The ceiling had almost broken her, but she was pleased that she had tackled that first. Now that two walls were painted it was certainly beginning to look brighter in there. And Amber had been right with her choice of white paint. Now that the cracked and mottled yellow paint had been covered up, the whole place looked fresher and more modern. She was feeling quite proud of herself and the hard work she had put in.
‘You’ve done really well,’ said Tom, coming to stand next to her.
Lucy was instantly aware of looking even more of a mess than usual. ‘You like it?’ she asked.
He nodded. ‘I do. In fact, it looks bigger than before.’ He frowned. ‘I’m not sure what we’re going to do with all this space now that you’ve cleared so much of the rubbish.’
‘Actually I wanted to ask you something,’ she said, putting down her paintbrush on top of a tall bookcase where Keith couldn’t reach it. As it happened, the dog was currently sprawled out in a sunny patch by the front door.
‘Ask away,’ he said, laughing gently at her as she turned to face him.
‘What?’ she asked, puzzled.
He reached out to touch a lock of her hair which had escaped from her ponytail. ‘You look like an explosion in a paint factory,’ he told her gently.
‘Oh God, do I?’ she said, grabbing her phone and looking at her reflection. She was horrified to see that she was splattered with paint. She looked terrible! She groaned, feeling embarrassed that Tom could see her like that.
